Pond Mountain Game Lands

Blue Ridge Conservancy partnered with NC Wildlife Resources Commission in 2008 to create the Pond Mountain Game Lands in northwest Ashe County. At 5,000 feet elevation, Pond Mountain overlooks the mountains of Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Immediately to the north are the peaks of Virginia’s Grayson Highlands State Park and Jefferson National Forest, Mount Rogers, and White Top Mountain. To the west lies Tennessee’s expansive Cherokee National Forest. Visible to the east and south are the high peaks of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge. Pond Mountain is about a 30-minute drive from the mountain community of West Jefferson.

Thomas Jefferson’s father, Peter Jefferson, gave Pond Mountain its name in the 1700s after he surveyed the line that would become the border of North Carolina and Virginia. Jefferson chose the name because of the many natural ponds that dotted the mountain’s high ridgeline. The historic ponds point to the mountain’s special significance as an important water resource. Several important streams and creeks originate on Pond Mountain, including Big Laurel, Ripshin and Big Horse Creeks, all of which flow into the New River, a National Heritage River and one of the oldest rivers in the world.

In addition to preserving the region’s natural beauty and vital water resources, the protection of Pond Mountain is important for wildlife. Because of the mountain’s close proximity to Cherokee National Forest and Jefferson National Forest, protecting the area greatly expands wildlife habitat, including habitats highlighted in North Carolina’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP).

Through several acquisitions over the past eight years, Pond Mountain now offers one of the largest public access game land properties in northwest North Carolina. The 2,900 acre game lands allows recreational opportunities such as horseback riding, hiking, fishing, hunting, and cross country skiing.

Currently under Christmas tree cultivation, the project offers major environmental benefits by presenting an opportunity to restore a high mountain habitat to a thriving natural area.

Please be mindful of hunting seasons and regulations when visiting Game Lands. More information can be found at www.ncwildlife.org.